Cancelling French home insurance: loi Hamon, renewal date, moving out, letter template
How to cancel a French home insurance (assurance habitation) contract: at any time after one year (loi Hamon, article L113-15-2 of the Insurance Code), at the annual renewal date with 2 months' notice, or within 3 months of moving (article L113-16). Letter template and registered mail with proof of receipt.
Quick answer
After one year of cover, French home insurance can be cancelled at any time, without reason or fees (loi Hamon, article L113-15-2 of the Insurance Code): cancellation takes effect one month after the insurer receives your notification. Before one year, two doors: the annual renewal date (2 months' notice, article L113-12) or moving house / a change of circumstances (article L113-16, within 3 months of the event). Send the letter by registered mail with proof of receipt (LRAR) to fix the date — and if you are a tenant, sign the new contract first: insurance is compulsory.
| Who it's for | Any home-insurance policyholder (tenant or owner) |
| Legal basis | Art. L113-12, L113-15-1, L113-15-2 and L113-16 of the Insurance Code |
| After 1 year | Cancel at any time; effective 1 month after notification |
| Before 1 year | Renewal date (2 months' notice), moving or change of circumstances (3 months) |
| Cost | Free; unused premium refunded within 30 days |
| How to send | Registered mail with proof of receipt — the date of receipt starts the clock |
| Common mistakes | Cancelling before re-insuring (tenants), missing the notice period, ignoring loi Chatel |
1. After one year: cancel at any time (loi Hamon)
Since the loi Hamon, any home insurance contract can be cancelled without reason after one year (art. L113-15-2). In practice:
- You notify the insurer at any time.
- Cancellation takes effect one month after your notification is received.
- The insurer refunds the unused portion of the premium within 30 days; no fees.
If you are a tenant, insurance is compulsory: the new insurer can handle the cancellation to guarantee continuous cover — give them the old contract references.
2. Before one year: renewal date, Chatel or change of circumstances
- At the annual renewal date (art. L113-12): give 2 months' notice before the anniversary date.
- Loi Chatel (art. L113-15-1): the insurer must remind you of your right not to renew along with the renewal notice. If it arrives less than 15 days before the deadline, you get 20 days; if it never arrives, you may cancel at any time from the renewal date.
- Article L113-16: moving house, marriage or divorce, change of profession or retirement — if the insured risk is affected, cancel within 3 months of the event, effective 1 month after notification.
3. Prepare the cancellation
- Find the renewal date on the annual notice or the contract schedule.
- Tenant: sign the new contract first and obtain the certificate of insurance.
- Gather the contract number and your full details.
- If moving, prepare supporting evidence (inventory report, lease, deed of sale).
4. Cancellation letter template
Subject: Cancellation of home insurance contract no. [X]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby give notice of cancellation of my home insurance contract no. [X] covering the property at [address].
[After one year] In accordance with article L113-15-2 of the Insurance Code, this cancellation will take effect one month after receipt of this letter.
[At renewal] In accordance with article L113-12 of the Insurance Code, I am giving the required two months' notice; the cancellation will take effect on the renewal date of [date].
[Moving] In accordance with article L113-16 of the Insurance Code, following my move on [date] (evidence enclosed), the cancellation will take effect one month after receipt of this letter.
Please refund the unused portion of the premium and confirm the effective date in writing.
Yours faithfully,
[Date — Signature]
Need to send this letter with solid proof? MaisonMail can print and dispatch your cancellation through an available registered service. Origin market, delivery times, tracking and the proof-of-receipt slip are confirmed before payment. See also: cancelling insurance with the Hamon and Chatel laws.
5. Why registered mail with proof of receipt matters
- The date of receipt by the insurer starts the one-month clock: the proof-of-receipt slip fixes it beyond dispute.
- In any dispute over the effective date or the refund, the slip is your evidence.
- A phone call or a message in the customer portal can be contested; a registered letter cannot.
6. After sending
- The insurer confirms the effective date; check it matches the legal deadline.
- The premium overpayment must be refunded within 30 days.
- Keep the proof of receipt and written confirmation for 2 years (insurance limitation period).
- Tenant: pass the new certificate to your landlord if requested.
7. Common mistakes
- Cancelling before re-insuring as a tenant: a gap in compulsory cover.
- Missing the 2-month notice for a renewal-date cancellation and being locked in for another year.
- Invoking loi Hamon before one year of cover: the request will be rejected.
- Cancelling more than 3 months after a move.
- Not claiming the refund of the unused premium.
In short: after one year, loi Hamon lets you cancel home insurance at any time, effective one month after receipt; before one year, use the renewal date (2 months' notice), loi Chatel, or article L113-16 if you move. Notify by registered mail with proof of receipt, claim the unused premium back, and — as a tenant — never let cover lapse.
Official sources
References used and links to the rules currently in force.
- Assurance habitation : résiliation du contrat (F19083)Service-Public.fr
Information current as of the last verification date. This guide is informational and is not legal advice — for a complex situation, consult a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel my French home insurance during the first year?
In principle no: at-any-time cancellation (loi Hamon) only opens after one year of cover. Before that, you need either the annual renewal date (2 months' notice), an event under article L113-16 (moving house, marriage or divorce, change of profession, retirement), or the insurer's failure to send the loi Chatel renewal notice.
As a tenant, can I stay uninsured between two contracts?
No. Home insurance is compulsory for tenants in France. Sign the new contract before cancelling the old one; in practice the new insurer can handle the cancellation for you so cover is continuous.
Will the unused part of my premium be refunded?
Yes. The insurer must refund the portion of the premium covering the period after the cancellation takes effect, within 30 days. No fees or penalties may be charged.
When does the cancellation take effect?
Under loi Hamon (after one year), one month after the insurer receives your notification. At the renewal date, on the anniversary date provided you respected the 2-month notice. After moving, one month after notification, provided you cancel within 3 months of the event.
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